Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfcopaka’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Sunsurfcopaka’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; medium-sized red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNSURFCOPAKA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsurfcopaka’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and mounding Petunia plants with freely branching habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in April, 2005 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px287-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px612-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsurfcopaka’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsurfcopaka’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Medium-sized red-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petunia ‘Sunremi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,803. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunremi’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more compact than and not as         broad as plants of ‘Sunremi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia were more mounding than and not as         upright and outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Sunremi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller and lighter         green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Sunremi’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Sunremi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurfcopaka’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunsurfcopaka’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the late spring and early summer in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures averaging 23° C. and night temperatures averaging 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Sunsurfcopaka’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px287-1, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px612-1, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at temperatures of             15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;             freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 16.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 26.8 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 13.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137D; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A; venation,             close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 31 open flowers per plant; flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about three to             four weeks after planting; long flowering period; flowering             commences naturally during the spring and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 4.3 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 11.6 mm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 3.7 cm.             Diameter: About 7.6 mm. Color: Close to 182B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.4 cm. Petal width: About 2 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded to cuspidate. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close             to 45A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 186D.             Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45B; venation,             close to 45B. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             186D; venation, close to 186D. Throat: Close to 173D;             venation, close to 178A. Tube: Close to 176B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 1.2             cm to 1.4 cm. Sepal width: About 1.9 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 1.7 cm to 2 cm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.1 mm by 2.4 mm. Anther             color: Close to 11C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 2.1 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             143B. Ovary color: Close to 144A. Seeds/fruits: Seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfcopaka’ as illustrated and described. 